this is extra short, but the next one is going to be longer... and in a few hours.. ;) and it will contain the first christian/ana kiss ;))

thank you icalyn for editing! :)

"Grazie." Ana said, laughing.

"See, now you speak Italian perfectly!" Paolo, one of the men said as Ana repeated another word in Italian.

It actually felt so good to be funny and talkative, Ana realized.

Maybe the reason all she did in Seattle was read books, work and hang out with Kate was because the people there did not like her. She felt so free with these guys. And she felt like a woman, too, especially on the way back to the office.

"Hey, Ana..." Paolo said, giving her a smile.

"My attention is yours." Ana said, returning his smile.

"I thought... you know, maybe you would like to go out with me tonight?"

And why not? "Sure, I would love to."

"Then how about I meet you at nine at your hotel?"

"Sounds perfect, I can't wait." She said as they reached the office and had to part.

Ana had to get back to the finances while he had to go back to his department. But there was another person she met there.

"I see you are socializing with their team." Christian said, making Ana look at him.

"Yes, why not? They are very nice and freindly." Not like her usual colleagues, she wanted to say.

"Well, your decision, not mine." Christian said as he stood up and took the papers he had to give her.

"Is anything wrong?" Ana asked as she made her way to him and looked up to him.

Was anything wrong? Was anything right? Christian thought.

How could it be that he was actually looking at her and thinking about how would it be to see her naked?

"Everything is fine."

"Well, then good."

"Perfect." He said and gave her the papers, then returned to his desk.

"Thank you." Ana said, giving him an angry look, sitting down at her own desk. Was he angry with her? She wondered, but then realised she did not actually care.

She cared only about the work, and maybe a bit about her date tonight, too.

So that's why she kept analysing the information about the company's finances until seven when Paolo appeared at the door.

"Hey, Ana, wanted to check again – the Grand hotel?"

"Yeah, that's right." Ana flashed him a smile.

"See you at nine!"

Christian watched the man go. Who was she to go out with someone? Especially some Italian man she has known for like six hours!

He tried hard to act that nothing was wrong, everything was okay, but inside all he was thinking of was how far this new Anastasia would go. Would she sleep with him tonight?

No, he had to stop. If she was going out, he will, too.

So when he left he just asked the secretary if she had any plans. And of course the girl was more than willing to go out with him.